Four of David Eckstein’s immediate family members have received kidney donations, and the postseason legend told MLB.com on Friday that he probably will be donating one of his kidneys “within the next two years” to his sister Susan Eckstein Gaines.

The Tigers have justifiably taken a lot of heat for their defensive lapses this season. But in the American League Division Series, their defense was perhaps the ultimate difference.

Alex Rodriguez was just an observer for the Yankees’ 3-1 victory over the Orioles in Game 5 of the AL Division Series.

Tailoring the starting rotation to fit the National League Championship Series schedule, and perhaps to weave in Tim Lincecum, is surely one of the Giants’ top priorities as they await Sunday’s start of the next postseason round.

Fans will decide the Division Series MVP from a list of four candidates — one for each team that advanced. You can enter for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2013 World Series just by voting.

The Giants became only the second team in Major League history to win three road games in a best-of-five series when they knocked off Cincinnati on Thursday.

If there was any doubt that Justin Verlander was the best starting pitcher on the planet before Game 5 of the ALDS, the Detroit ace erased it with his four-hit shutout of the A’s on Thursday.

General manager Frank Wren was given a contract extension through 2014 on Friday, and the Braves also announced several promotions in their front office.

On Thursday, Jayson Werth helped keep the Nationals’ season alive by doing something that had never been done in the Wild Card era.

This 2012 postseason just keeps pushing October drama to the limit at every turn, spreading must-win chills all over the country, day after day for a week now.

One clear theme has emerged in this newly expanded postseason world — home crowds are having to watch a lot of visiting celebrations on their turf.

When the Detroit Tigers absolutely had to play their best baseball, they did exactly that, and maybe that’s going to be their legacy in 2012. Never mind that they teased us for most of this season.

For the first time in the 18-year history of Division Series play, all four reached Game 5.

Joe Saunders was asked to keep the Orioles’ season alive on Thursday night with the team down, 2-1, in its matchup with the New York Yankees.

A day after he threw out the first pitch ahead of Game 3 of the American League Division Series, injured Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said that his right knee has healed well enough that running has entered the picture.

The Tigers are headed to their second straight ALCS after Justin Verlander dominated the A’s in Game 5 with a four-hit shutout. Verlander struck out 11 and Austin Jackson accounted for four runs in the 6-0 victory in Oakland on Thursday night.

While they failed to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them in the National League Division Series, the Reds were not hard-pressed to give credit where credit was due.